Pupils' pride as Sunderland school receives highest possible award for supporting the environment
The award is the highest possible environmental accolade for schools
Staff and children at Academy 360 are bursting with pride after the school has received the prestigious Eco Green Flag award with distinction - the highest possible accolade awarded to the nation’s schools for sustainability and environmental initiatives.
The primary phase of the school has received the prestigious award after reducing its waste by 25% this academic year.
A range of initiatives have been led by the school’s Eco Committee, which has been coordinated by Year 4 teacher Courtney McCluskey.
Ms McCluskey said: “We received the award for the evidence we submitted on the three key areas of recycling, waste management, and biodiversity.
“The children take part in regular school and community litter picks and planting of plants and shrubs to increase our biodiversity. We now recycle as much as we can, including uniforms, and all departments in the school are conscious of reducing their waste.
“We also have a big drive on the importance of switching everything off so as not to waste electricity.”
The three identified areas have been embedded in the school’s curriculum, led by the academy’s Forest School, where pupils can learn about nature and the environment in an outdoor setting.
Eco Leader Mia Gray, 10, said: “I really enjoy the litter picks and the planting to improve our biodiversity. It makes me proud that the school is such an environmentally friendly place.”
Eco Committee member Isla Brown, 9, said: “I’m really happy to have got the award. It’s a really big thing for the school as we’ve never had it before.”
Fellow member Rayna Pattinson, 10, added: “I’m really proud to be part of the Eco Committee and I’m really proud to get the award. It’s important to look after the environment so we don’t harm the wildlife.”
To receive the award the school had to undergo a robust inspection of submitted evidence.
Ms McCluskey said: “It’s really important that children learn about the importance of the environment and the need to protect it, as these pupils are the generation who will be informing the environmental decisions of our future.”
Primary School headteacher Helena West said: “I’m immensely proud of our children for their forward thinking attitudes, enthusiasm, and the contributions they make each day to ensure our school remains progressive, sustainable, and environmentally responsible.”
Academy 360 executive headteacher Denise Taylor added: “We are extremely proud of our pupils who continue to set a strong example for the whole school community and beyond.”